Salty sea breezes, clapboard cottages, hikes through lush forests to quiet lakes—summer on the East Coast has a magical, relaxing quality that’s hard to beat. These properties are all within driving distance of New York, Boston and Charleston and offer a variety of adventure and relaxation experiences (with new social-distancing policies* in place) for couples and families alike.
Massachusettes
Cape Cod and Nantucket
Chatham Bars Inn - Classic New England
Imagine waking up to a seaside breeze, a fishing fleet leaving for work, and a crimson sun rising over seals relaxing on the sandbars. This is a typical morning at Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod’s premier resort and spa. Kick back and relax on a pristine, classic New England beach where you can unwind and reconnect with loved ones. Fill your day with sun and sand, as you splash into the cool water. Immerse yourself in beautiful surroundings and take in sweeping views of the sea while enjoying the warm hospitality you deserve. The resort’s rooms are spread across multiple buildings including the Main Inn, the Spa and several small cottages sprinkled across the oceanfront property.
Ocean Edge Resort – Luxury family camp
Ocean Edge Resort has launched a new lineup of private experiences for families looking to the social distance while still enjoying the Cape. The bayside resort is offering private summer camp-esque activities from private oyster tours to archery lessons, pickleball, and s' mores around a beach fire pit to create the perfect family vacation (while social distancing, of course). For the ultimate secluded getaway, book one of the multi-bedroom villas complete with grocery delivery service and privacy. https://www.oceanedge.com/
Nantucket
Nantucket is 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, but feels worlds away. Take a short ferry ride from Hyannis or a quick plane ride from Boston and you’ll be on island in an hour. For your stay choose from the iconic Nantucket Hotel & Resort, the charming White Elephant, or the upscale, The Wauwinet, a seaside refuge with breathtaking views of the bay, historic architecture, and the only Relais & Chateau properties in Nantucket. All properties offer private villas, cottages and/or residences and private experiences for optimal social distancing.
The Berkshires
Wellness Escapes - Canyon Ranch Lenox and Miraval Resort & Spa, Berkshires
The Berkshires is often associated with a long fall weekends in New England, but a wellness escape is welcome any time of year. The Berkshires is now home to two of the world’s most respected destination spas, Canyon Ranch Lenox and the newly opened Miraval Resort & Spa. Both properties offer specific spa treatments and wellness packages as wells as weight loss programs Canyon Ranch is known for its comprehensive professional approach, with a staff that includes registered dieticians, board-certified physicians, and exercise physiologists. Miraval’s Life in Balance philosophy embraces the idea that health is achieved by healing the whole self and engaging in the present through meditation programs and their not-to-be-missed Equine Experience.
Vermont
The Pitcher Inn – Rustic charm
In the center of the tiny Vermont village of Warren, surrounded by storybook cottages, The Pitcher Inn is the epitome of rustic charm. The historic two-story New England mansion is the perfect base for exploring the Green Mountain State. Enjoy kayaking, hiking, golf and so much more in this little corner of paradise.
Twin Farms – adults-only, foodie focused
Looking for a couples getaway? Check out the incomparable Twin Farms, an adults-only, food-focused, inclusive 5-star resort. Set on more than 300 acres enjoy unspoiled outdoor adventure (think: hiking, biking, kayaking, golfing and canoeing) and tailored meals before heading to the spa to relax and retreat. Houlahan Travel clients will get a $100 spa credit, free breakfast for 2 daily and an automatic upgrade at the time of check in, if available.
Maine
The White Bar Inn - Kennebunkport, Maine
The White Barn Inn has been a beloved local landmark for over 150 years, synonymous with warm New England hospitality, rustic charm, and uncompromising attention to detail. Just a 90 minutes’ drive north of Boston, this inviting property is renowned as one of the country’s most distinctive getaways. At the White Barn Restaurant, award-winning dining and expertly choreographed service unfold. The property offers meticulously restored rooms in the landmark inn and as well as private waterfront cottages.
Hidden Pond Resort - Kennebunkport, Maine
Part wilderness retreat, part gated community, part summer camp – guests at Hidden Pond Resort will experience feelings of nostalgia, calmness and relaxation before they even settle into thier cottage. Accommodations range from one-bedroom bungalows, one or two-story, two-bedroom cottages, or one of the brand new Treetop Lodge accommodations featuring studios and one bedroom suites. The property is perfectly designed for social distancing with considerable space between each cottage.
New York
Explore the Great Camps of the Adirondacks
Originally built as a Great Camp for William Avery Rockefeller II, The Point personifies the 19th Century romantic notion of “roughing it” in great comfort, style and luxury. The luxurious log mansion now serves as an intimate lakefront private estate in the Adirondacks perfect for a secluded getaway. There are only 11 distinctive guest rooms on the property and visitors have access to all 75-acres of the secluded property set on the Upper Sarnac Lake. Activities include boating, fishing, tennis, waterskiing, croquet, badminton, swimming, wake surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, golfing or rock climbing in the majestic High Peaks. Although the property is for 21+ guests, an exclusive buy-out of the property waives that requirement.
Lake Kora is another legendary Great Camp in the Adirondack wilderness with its own private 500 acre lake. Once a playground for American aristocrats, Lake Kora provides an authentic guest experience. The estate offers twelve guestrooms among seven lakeside lodges and is available only by exclusive reservation and is inclusive of meals and non-alcoholic beverages.
Lake Placid Lodge is the only hotel on Lake Placid, (site of the 1980 Winter Olympics). The resort features sweeping porches, high windows, grand outdoor fireplaces and paths that meander through the woods embracing the magnificence of the surrounding nature. The Lodge is a celebration of the best of the Adirondacks: hand-hewn beams, rooms filled with art and antiques, beds carved by local artisans, and stone fireplaces laid piece-by-piece by Adirondack masons. Accommodations include thirteen rooms in the Lodge and seventeen luxurious cabins at the water’s edge. Children over the age of twelve are welcome at the Lake Placid Lodge in the Lakeside suites and cabins and in the Lodge accommodations with an exclusive buy-out of the entire resort.
Connecticut
Winvian Farm - luxury summer camp for families
Winvian Farm, nestled in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, is the ideal escape for families. The 113 acres of private woodlands and cottages lend a distinctive summer camp feel perfect for a family road trip. Choose from a variety of cottages including the two-story Treehouse Cottage set 35 feet up in a canopy of trees, or the Camping Cottage with a ceiling of stars that glow when the lights go down in the evening. Tell ghost stories around the outdoor fire pits, explore the three-acre organic farm, or take a dip in the garden side swimming pool ideal for an afternoon of cooling off and relaxing with the family. Kayaking and canoeing are also available on nearby Bantam Lake.
Rhode Island
Castle Hill Inn - Newport, Rhode Island - the Gilded Age meets modern luxury
Castle Hill Inn, in Newport, offers luxe beach cottages perched on a private stretch of beach strolling distance from the sprawling Newport mansions along the famed Cliff Walk. Enjoy Sunday Brunch on The Lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, snorkel the Hidden Coves, or sail along the stunning coast line. Accommodations include private cottages and
Ocean House – Watch Hill, Rhode Island – storied elegance
Ocean House is a historic Rhode Island luxury hotel that has been meticulously reconstructed to pay tribute to its storied past. Open year-round, offering uncompromising service, beachfront location and world-class amenities the luxurious resort with its iconic yellow façade, wrap-around porch, and sweeping ocean views pays homage to New England’s golden age of hospitality with timeless elegance. The Relais & Chateau property offers private houses ranging from cozy two-bedroom bungalows to sprawling seven-bedroom homes, some with private, seasonal swimming pools, laundry facilities, seasonal fireplaces or hot tubs. Cottage guests have the added convenience of a dedicated cottage concierge to coordinate requests before and during your visit.
Great Smoky Mountains
Blackberry Farm - Walland, Tennessee - Wellness,
Nestled into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Eastern Tennessee, Blackberry Farm is situated on 4,200 acres with access to an additional 5,000 acres of private wilderness, The renowned resort is an elegant 68-room Relais & Chateaux resort that brings together a time-honored belief in not only enjoying the beautiful land on which it sits, but utilizing it to provide every guest an unforgettable experience. Paying homage to locally grown and sourced ingredients, Blackberry Farm is celebrated as an unrivaled food and wine destination, providing farm-to-table cuisine, as well as a comprehensive wine cellar complete with more than 170,000 bottles of wine from around the world. Activities include fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, sporting clays, spa treatments, yoga, cycling, and mountain biking.
Blackberry Mountain continues the legacy of sister property Blackberry Farm and the Beall family’s world-renowned hospitality as well as unwavering dedication and appreciation for the land. One of only four Relais & Châteaux resorts in the world to earn the designation before opening, Blackberry Mountain is an adventurous retreat for family, friends or business, offering modern-day luxuries in an unencumbered natural environment. Blackberry Mountain offers guests equal parts of Blackberry Farm’s renowned hospitality, with seasonal food and beverage menus designed to complement the property’s diverse offerings and panoramic views. From restorative treatments in the spa to outdoor exploration, Blackberry Mountain fosters wellness with its own adventurous spirit and style celebrating its home adjacent to one of America’s most beloved national parks. Blackberry Mountain accommodations include several cabins, cottages and multiple private homes.
South Carolina
Kiawah Island Resort - Kiawah, South Carolina
Kiawah Island Resort is situated on ten miles of wide, unspoiled oceanfront beach boasting luxury accommodations, world-class resort amenities, award-winning recreational activities, and some of the most respected golf courses in the nation. Kiawah Island Golf Resort has the variety of accommodations and rentals including villas, private homes and 5-star service at the Sanctuary Hotel, a world-class spa.
Montage Palmetto Bluff - South Carolina
Nestled on 20,000 acres in South Carolina's Lowcountry, Montage Palmetto Bluff resort encompasses an extensive nature preserve, two picturesque villages options, a riverfront marina and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Accommodations include spacious cottages, guestrooms, suites and village homes that pay homage to the Lowcountry’s rich heritage.
Don't see what you are looking for? We have access to private homes and complete buy-out options of smaller hotels that may be just what you need. Contact us at 847.868.4502 or at info@houlahantravel.com for more ideas.
Prefer to head West? Check out these Western US best social distancing options.
*Many of the properties listed above offer standalone accommodations like cabins, cottages and homes, so guests can isolate themselves if they wish to do so. While each hotel’s sanitation and social-distancing policies are unique, most generally include reduced staffing and guest occupancy rates (to ensure that social-distancing protocols are followed); temperature checks for guests and staff; stringent new sanitization procedures for rooms and public spaces; closing or rearranging high-contact areas like gyms, spas, restaurants and check in areas. See individual property websites for additional information or call/email us for updates.